Credit card scam inquiry widened

More than 150 customers of a BP petrol station in Worcester have become victims of a cash card scam.

Two weeks ago West Mercia Police said they had questioned a man over the scam linked to the Castle Street garage.

At that time they believed 70 people had been targeted and £19,000 stolen as cards were cloned in the Far East.

Police said the number affected by the scam has doubled and the investigation in the Far East has widened. The garage is under new management.

Change Pin advice

Det Insp Graham Smith, who is leading the inquiry, said many attempts to use cloned cards had been stopped by banks but added: "The number of incidents continues to grow as more and more incidents are reported."

He said any customers at the garage during the past few months should double-check their accounts as soon as possible.

"As it is increasingly apparent that a large number of customers had their card details copied and identification numbers obtained during October, November and December we are advising customers who have used the premises during that time to change their numbers as a fraud prevention measure."

A man arrested on 30 November in connection with the overseas cloning and unauthorised use of credit and debit card remains on police bail while inquiries continue.